Baby Names Girl Names Evelyn Name Meaning Evelyn is frequently used as a girl's name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Evelyn. By Wendy Wisner Published on June 11, 2024 Fact checked by Elizabeth Brownfield In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Evelyn? Name Variations Common Nicknames for Evelyn Similar Names Suggested Sibling Names Famous People Named Evelyn Close Evelyn was originally an English surname, an anglicized form of the Norman French name Aveline, which has various meanings including "hazelnut," "desired," "life," and "island." Later, Evelyn was used as a given name for both boys and girls. It became more common as a feminine name, perhaps because it resembles the name Eve. The name Evelyn is also considered to come from a combination of the names Eve and Lynn, which mean "life" or "mother of life" and "lake." Taken together, the name Evelyn has come to mean "desired child," "island in the water," "life," "little bird," "strength," and "wished for." Origin: Evelyn comes from the Norman French name Aveline, which was itself a diminutive form of the name Ava. Gender: Evelyn can be used as a masculine or feminine name, though it has been far more common as a girl name for at least a century. Pronunciation: EV-uh-lin Editor's Note Although baby names are frequently separated by gender, Parents believes that sex need not play a role in your name selection process. You should select the name that you feel best suits your new baby. How Popular Is the Name Evelyn? Evelyn was a popular name for girls in the US in the early 20th century. The name remained in the top 20 from 1907 to 1930, peaking during this run in the year 1915 at No. 10. It was less popular for almost an entire century and did not return to the top 20 until the year 2013. The name has steadily climbed in the rankings for the past decade, ranking as the No. 9 name for girls in the US in 2023. Although the name Evelyn is typically used as a girl's name, it also has been used as a boy's name, and there have been notable men named Evelyn. Moreover, it can be used any way you see fit, as sex doesn't have to be a part of your name selection process. Name Variations There are many variations of the name Evelyn, including: AvelinaAvelineEvalineEvalynEveleenEvelienEvelinEvelinaEvelineEvelyneEvelynnEwaline Common Nicknames for Evelyn There are multiple cute nicknames for Evelyn. For example, it can be shortened to Ev, Evie, Lyn, Lynn, or Evy. Similar Names The name Evelyn is one of many English names with the -lyn suffix, such as Ashlyn, Carolyn, Jocelyn, Kaitlyn, or Marilyn. Like Evelyn, these names tend to have many variations in spelling, sometimes ending in -lin, -line, -lynn, or -lynne. Other girl names starting with "E" include: EdithEleanorElizabethEllenElsaEloiseEmilyEmmaEricaErinEsmereldaEstellaEstherEthel Other traditional English names include: AliceAnnaBeatriceCatherineClaraGraceHelenMargaretMary Other names that are unisex or gender-neutral include: AdrianAlexCameronDanaDylanJesseKellyKendallLaneParkerRileyRobin Suggested Sibling Names Names that may pair well with Evelyn include: BrandonDanielDorothyGeorgeJamesJohnLeahLillianMiriamRebeccaRobertRoseSamuelWilliam Famous People Named Evelyn Lots of famous people have donned the name Evelyn over the years. Famous female Evelyns Evelyn M. Anderson (1899–1985), American physiologist and biochemist known for helping discover adreno-cortical thyroid hormone (ACTH)Evelyn Ashford, American sprinter and Olympic gold medalistLady Evelyn Leonora Almina Herbert (1901–1980), one of the first people in modern times to enter the tomb of King TutankhamunEvelyn Berezin (1925–2018), American computer designer known for developing the first computer-driven word processorEvelien Gerrits, Dutch cricketerEvelyn Hatch (1871–1951), English muse of Charles Lutwidge DodgsonEvelyn Hart, Canadian ballerinaEvelyn Keyes (1916–2008), American actress known for her role as Suellen O'Hara in the film Gone With the WindEvelyn “Champagne” King, American R&B and disco singerEvelyn Lincoln (1909–1995), personal secretary to President John F. KennedyEvelyn Mase (1922–2004), the first wife of South African President Nelson MandelaEvelyn Nesbit (1884–1967), American model, chorus girl, and actressEvelyn Preer (1896–1932), African American actress and blues singerGwyneth Evelyn "Gwen" Verdon (1925–2000), American actress and dancerEvelyn Wells (1899–1984), American biographer of the ancient Egyptian royalsEvelyn Wood (1909–1995), American educator and advocate of speed reading Famous male Evelyns Evelyn Baring (1841–1917), 1st Earl of Cromer, British statesman and diplomatEvelyn Barker (1894–1983), British Army officer in World War I and IIEvelyn Owen (1915–1949), Australian inventor of the Owen submachine gunEvelyn de Rothschild, British financier and member of the prominent Rothschild familyEvelyn Waugh (1903–1966), English author, best known for satirical novels such as Decline and Fall, A Handful of Dust, and Brideshead Revisited More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names 58 Baby Names Inspired by Nature 275 Popular Baby Names for Twins Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Change in Name Popularity. Social Security Administration. n.d.